Racial Differences Found in Use of Specialty Services By Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

6/17/2013For Release: June 17, 2013

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A study of children diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder
found racial differences in which children accessed specialist doctors,
including gastroenterologists, neurologists and psychiatrists, and in the types
of specialty tests they received. The study, “Racial and Ethnic Differences inSubspecialty Service Use by Children With Autism,” published in the July 2013
issue of Pediatrics (published online June 17), compared use of subspecialty
providers and procedures for more than 3,600 patients with autism who were seen
at Massachusetts General Hospital. Of the 3,615 children with autism spectrum
disorder, 1,557 had subspecialty care visits. Among African-American children,
29.8 percent had subspecialty care visits, whereas 36.9 percent of white
children had such visits. The most striking differences were in use of
gastroenterology and nutrition services; 13.8 percent of white children
accessed gastroenterology services, compared to 9 percent of African-American
children and 9.9 percent of Hispanic children. African-American and Hispanic
children also received fewer gastroenterology tests including endoscopy and
colonoscopy. Hispanic children had lower use of neurologic studies, sleep
studies and neuropsychiatric tests. The authors conclude there may be several
possible explanations, including differences in children’s medical conditions,
differences in how often doctors refer their patients to specialists, and differences
in how often patients follow-through on those appointments. According to the
study authors, developing clearer practice guidelines based on evidence of the
benefit of specific evaluations and procedures may help.

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The American Academy of Pediatrics is an organization of 60,000
primary
care pediatricians, pediatric medical subspecialists and pediatric
surgical
specialists dedicated to the health, safety and well-being of infants,
children, adolescents and young adults. For more information, visit
www.aap.org.